LeBron James' late-game struggles at the free throw line dominated the narrative of the Houston Rockets' 105-103 overtime win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. The King's failings from the stripe benefited James Harden from than a competitive perspective, too – they took the spotlight off his bush-league kick to LeBron's crotch in the third quarter.

A strange game for LeBron James only got stranger with the game on the line. After tussling with Patrick Beverley, getting kicked in the groin by James Harden, and being subject to a spate equally puzzling calls and no-calls from the opening tip, The King missed a pair of free throws that would have put his team ahead in the final seconds of overtime.

Intensity during today's game between the Houston Rockets and Cleveland Cavaliers was already at a rising simmer. After James Harden fell to the floor and intentionally kicked LeBron James below the belt, it's a wonder that it hasn't boiled over entirely.

James Harden is basketball's leading scorer. He grabs six rebounds and dishes seven assists per game while ranking third in steals, too. The Houston Rockets superstar might be the league's MVP frontrunner less than three full seasons removed from winning Sixth Man of the Year.

Andrew Wiggins was doing an admirable defending James Harden. As the third quarter clock wound down, though, the Houston Rockets MVP candidate drew a defensive assignment other than the Minnesota Timberwolves rookie.

Kevin Durant's relationship with the media might be fractured, but his trust in the Oklahoma City Thunder remains strong as ever despite his team's struggles in 2014-2015. During a session with reporters following Wednesday practice, the reigning MVP eased concerns of Thunder fans everywhere by insisting he doesn't resent the organization for trading James Harden and that the heavily scrutinized deal will have no bearing on his free agency decision in two summers' time.

James Harden is never included in the debate about basketball's best point guard. His consensus nominal position is off-guard, after all, and the Houston Rockets MVP candidate boasts the numbers to prove it – he leads the league in scoring at 27.4 points per game. But that nomenclature and scoring production belies crucial context. Harden is his team's primary ballhandler and top playmaker, and is as natural a passer as close to any player in basketball. Even if his hoops id was more aligned with a traditional shooting guard's, though, The Beard says his team's roster necessitates embracing his floor general side.

James Harden recently told Bleacher Report, "I'm a great defender." And he says it knowing full well most people disagree. So how much better at defense is Harden, really this year? We try and figure his comment out.